Why does happiness matter?

Happiness is more controversial than you would expect. It sounds like such a simple, basic emotion. Parents frequently say all they want for their children is health and happiness. Simple, right? Not really. Adults, especially women, learn to put their needs behind duty, obligation and the needs of others. We defer our happiness until the weekend or vacation. It is childish or selfish, we are told, to worry about being happy when you have a family to support and care for. We disagree, vigorously.Happiness is a health issue. Happiness also improves your performance at work and at home. The Heart Math Institute in California has done extensive research on the physiological impact of happiness on the body. They found that when a person is experiencing positive emotions, their heart rhythms synchronize with the nervous system allowing their body to operate in a highly efficient way. Happiness also relieves stress and stress related hormones like cortisone are also at low levels when a person is happy. In terms of job performance, we know that people flourish when they are in an environment where they feel appreciated, respected and safe. People are at their most creative and make their best decisions under those conditions. So, to be your healthiest and to perform you best at work and at home, you need to be happy. If you find yourself thinking “I would be happy if only…”, please stop. Happiness is not contingent on certain events like getting a better job or finding a different spouse. Happiness is a choice you make every morning. By choosing to focus on the positives in our life rather than dwelling on the negatives, we can begin to feel happier. By identifying and living in accordance with our principles, we feel happy. Happiness is a discipline not just good luck.Our recipe for happiness is:

H – healthy physically and emotionally
A – Adaptive, able to handle change
P – Proud of your work
P – Proud of your family
Y – Young at heart

More on each of those components in our future blogs.